Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster: Faking tan with skincare?!

It took me 25 years to get into self-tanning and I think I can’t be stopped now… I’m on my way to become a real reality show girl! hahaha (spoiler: no)

Let’s talk seriously: It’s been a few months since I fell for the body tanning mousse from the Australian brand Loving Tan and I’m delighted, but I must admit that I wasn’t really serene to apply it on my face. Not that the composition scares me because it’s super safe, but a second of inattention and hello dark spots and uneven face…

During the inauguration of the Clarins store at the Grand Hotel Dieu in my hometown Lyon, France, I came across this little product. Actually I didn’t really “came across” because my friend was looking forward to buy it and told me like 5 minutes before, and the saleswoman didn’t wait more than 3 seconds to boast its merits – both pro and personal … And you know me: I am WEAK. So I unsheathed my credit card faster than lightning. :p

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster : Made-to-measure self tan

Everything is in the title, but when I saw the size of the thing … I scratched my head a bit! The Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster is a very small bottle of 15ml with golden tips. I don’t know if the see-through plastic in the center is brown tinted or if it’s the product that tints it, but the drops that come out are the exact same color.

How does it work?

Speaking of these drops, they’re also taken out by pressuring the lower part of the bottle, which is a kind of flexible material that allows the product to go out drop by drop. In this way, there’s no leak if you wanna travel with it, nor any breakage since it’s robust plastic. Because exploding a self-tanning liquid in a toiletry bag, suitcase or purse… I don’t wanna think about it. With this small gesture, I feel like I’m doing a DIY and I enjoy it so much.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, how to use it?

We can’t apply these drops directly on the skin: We have to mix them with our daily skincare! Well “daily skincare” I mean, when you have at least 5 or 6 like me, I necessarily wondered if I had to apply it at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of my routine. After trying all these methods, I must say that it works best with the very first skincare product after cleansing – my moisturizing toner – because it’s the ‘closest’ to the skin! I recommend to use it this way because if you put a thick product like a cream before, it will make a barrier and you’ll just spoil this precious elixir… If you don’t have a moisturizing toner or you apply it with a cotton pad, just mix it with your serum, your oil, your cream… let’s say the first skincare that you apply with your fingers. ;)

This is the ultimate solution for those who wanna tan without being exposed to the sun, while taking care of themselves! Mixing the drops with a skincare makes the tan SO EVEN – absolutely no risk of having any trace, I promise haha. It’s also a great opportunity not to forget the neck, the cleavage and the ears during your cocooning routine.

The recipe is very simple: 3 drops a day until the desired tan, then maintain at 2 drops. You can find your own rhythm all year long by applying 2 drops every two days for a “healthy” effect, and start again with a cure of 3 drops a day when the sun hits. It’s instant, but it fades very quickly too (2 or 3 days without any drops to find your natural complexion back).

The composition is surprisingly short! The main self-tanning ingredient is dihydroxyacetone -or DHA- which is a naturally occurring molecule that “chemically” (don’t be afraid of this word, damn it) reacts with the amino acids contained in the surface of the epidermis, thus allowing to “darken” the skin. Same principle as sugar under heat, to schematize a little! Coupled with erythrulose, also a natural active that allows a gradual tan, we get the greatest HQ self-tanning combo, with a quite natural composition even if it’s still considered as “conventional” please! There is even some Aloe Vera extracts in the main ingredients of the list in addition to other moisturizing, balancing agents, some “mandatory” preservatives etc … Last but not least, I’m sure you’ll be as delighted as me to know that our ultimate cheating product is non-comedogenic. If you have a capricious skin, it won’t cause any breakout.

What about the results?

If you are still septic, just know that the tan is instant: From the first application, my face got some colors in few minutes! It’s pretty subtle at first, you may not see it if you’re used to tan or play with self-tanners for a long time but for someone who has been very pale all her life, I immediately saw the difference.

To reach the medium tan I wanted (to honor my Hispanic origins), I applied 3 drops a day for 5 days. At the end of the 5th day, I admit I looked in the mirror and said “WOW! I can totally say I was at the beach for 15 days and nobody would object” haha. For example, my The Face Shop cushion was too dark for my natural complexion, it looked almost ORANGE. But after those 5 days, it suited me perfectly and I couldn’t see any difference between my face and my neck. Actually, everyone around me had noticed it. In a good way of course, but they all said that I looked great for the summer. I was tanned. Naturally tanned, without the skin cancer – thanks bye. :’)

A 15ml bottle may seem tiny in the palm of your hand, but at a rate of 3 drops a day, it lasts quite long. You can purchase it for $32 on Sephora! I am really satisfied with this Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster and I will totally buy it again. It now has a permanent place in my skincare routine. ♡

What is your experience with self-tanners? Would you jump into it with a product like this little nugget?